The Federal Communications Commission (FCC) has adopted a Notice of Proposed Rulemaking (NPRM) to modify the 900 MHz rules, providing the flexibility to grow the 900 MHz broadband segment from 3 MHz by 3 MHz to 5 MHz by 5 MHz. 

After the release of the NPRM, the FCC will seek comments and reply to them before any potential final report & order. This expansion is an option the FCC considered in its original rulemaking in 2020 modifying the 900 MHz rules when it approved the 3/3 MHz broadband segment, considering it premature at the time. Anterix, a broadband solutions company, argues that expansion of the 900 MHz band to permit 5/5 MHz broadband will support growing demand for wide-area, private, and secure wireless broadband networks for utilities, critical infrastructure, and business enterprise entities, among other benefits.

“We applaud the FCC for its leadership and commitment to improving the operations and security of our nation’s evolving electric grid through the deployment of private LTE enabled by 900 MHz broadband spectrum,” said Utility Broadband Alliance executive director Bobbi Harris. “Critical communications capabilities are playing a key role in the grid’s ongoing evolution to support our nation’s resilient energy future, and today’s action by the Commission is an incredible step toward enhancing those benefits.” 

The adoption of the NPRM is the next step in a proceeding endorsed by more than thirty organizations, including key utilities.

“Access to expanded 5/5 MHz broadband networks will provide utilities, such as Xcel Energy, with additional capacity to support 900 MHz pLTE broadband deployment with enhanced broadband communications capabilities,” Xcel Energy said in a statement. “The ability to pursue a 5/5 MHz network would increase the options and opportunities for Xcel Energy to enhance cybersecurity and reliability for its operations and customers.”

The 900 MHz band is designated for narrowband land mobile radio communication used by land transportation, utility, manufacturing, and petrochemical companies.

The original order in 2020 made available six of the 900 MHz band’s ten megahertz for broadband services while retaining four megahertz to continue incumbent narrowband operations. The regulatory framework allowed 900 MHz licensees, like Anterix, to obtain broadband licenses and included operational and technical rules meant to minimize interference to narrowband operations.

The long-awaited, 2020 proposal aimed to modernize the 900 MHz spectrum band so utilities could deploy private, secure LTE networks across their infrastructure.

“Leading utilities including Ameren, Southern Linc, and NY Power Authority have long viewed private LTE as the future of utility network communications, as evidenced by their membership in the Utility Broadband Alliance (UBBA) and the number of experimental licenses out there,” Rob Schwartz, president of Anterix, the company that owns this spectrum, said at the time.